Trenching-machine.



PATENTED JAN. 10, 1905 L. A,;DESY. TRENGHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 11, 1904.

10 SHEETS-SHEET l.

nesses Attorneys No. 279,415. ?ATENTED JAN. 10, 1905.

V L. DESY. TRENGHING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APE.11, 1904.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Witnesses:

HMLJd-l.

"'5 Attorneys .No. 779,415. PATENTED JAE L10, l9"5.

L. A. DESY. TRENOHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 11, 1904.

. 10 SHEBTSSHEET 41 Q Q N Witnesses: v

., gal afielg Invento 2 B f 02% H. m y I Attorheys L. A. DESY. TRENGHING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED APB..11, 1804.

PATENTED JAN. 10, 1905.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

.lNo. 779,415, PATENTED JAN. 10, 1905.

' L. A. DESY.

'ldENGHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 11, 14104. 7

10 SHEETS-SHEET s.

Witnesses: 05643 y inventor,

W By

Attorneys No. 779,415 PATENTED JAN. 10, 1905.

L. A. DESY. TRENUHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APE.11, 1904.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

'Wimasses: 03015 Atto rneys L. A. DESY. TRENQHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.11, 1904.

PATENTED JAN. 10, 1905.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

um w

Witnesses:

Attorneys PATENTED JAN. 10, 1905. L. A. DESY.

TRENGHING MACHINE; AIfP-LIOATION FILED APR.11, 1904.

10 snsms snzm 10.

Attorne'iisf 2%. 'mmw.

T0 all Wis/0m m msiding ii 35m city i=ls- '1 streak-in the Pmyince of Quebec. 3,213.24 inventecl'cex'min new and useful Improvements in TrenchihgMachines; and I do hereby declare that, the foliowingis a ful clear, and description 0 5 the 'invenicm such viii enable others skilled in the art 50 whlch it liFpGiilfiiDS t0 make and use the Eases to new and "useful imching-machines of the Cm e seli-gn-upelled and which rise in .trenches a motmummy Width W01 W Li flisheci t5, movemszz'. being at mus; 3 speed 3 where-the nmchine '7 1 0v;n paw-9: from 21% P as nstz'nctian of v it is *isa, E9 uh csmpx'lsing the ,og eyer aerator, and the trench imme into bucket-s are carried beiow the surround may be placed in difi' 1'- 1C r'nt depths, the nge of inclina ion of the brazen-f "same (iemz'mmingpf couz'se the of cut the baskets. To provide p0sigive means 502* ci'lang-ing this 0f clination under ail conditians, it is essential 45 that such means be power-driven 2:159 :tmt manually-operated means be gamvided 6% t is gmrpese, so when necasgry the me, with its conn ctm cenveyi be mused from is grew i went the pivaced 5 Eatenteri Jammr 1-9 u 7 San'al No. 282,672.

case Q'f injury to She d 1%. becomes nee 01s 9311115113 forging r: digging; menches 1t i" is '50 cu; from a1 1 Date $16.93

W becausa such cutting will prouse a upon the bucketmarrymg unnorm cut extending acres" fire is?) a at the sides i made at one 32% are provided inmy imprm the buckets are pm means which may he (1 151 sion $30 the Cami-a 1.

be, 011 511% Eaft :mu 1 ups- 1 the next 'ggha and under P are no.

wrap d a ;.0 ompi pu -5102B is so supported and connacieC $5 s be eushioned in n i penssfibe for wear ant ion thronghg 'uzdenig rip proper shall be rem rupp'wit 1g and connected mes K have devised a iliustz-aied hevmrifih an As the botto h the iwtto ms will mchnatwn ti:

of the buckets have been dumped, means are also provided for closing the said bottoms by pivoting the same upon their supports, such means being adapted to perform the necessary function regardlessof the angle of inclination of suchbottoms.

()ther features of detail construction and arrangement of parts which relate to the operation and contribute to the utility of the improved trenching-ma l 1:3 are hereinafter described; an L invention consists in such detail construction and arrangement of parts, all as hereinafter more fully described, and specifically set forth'in the claims.

In the annexed drawings similar numerals of reference indicate similar parts in all the views, wherein--- Figure 1 is a sideelevational view of my improved machine shown supported upon suitable traction-wheels as in the act of digging a trench. Fig. 2 1s a vertical sectional. view taken vertically through what is hereinafter called the "trench frame, showing such frame, with the convcyer-chains, supportingrollers, buckets, operating-shaft for such con- Veyer--chains and buckets, and appurtenant connections relatingthereto, as hereinafter de scribed, the trench-frame in this view being shown as in a lowered position. Fig. 3 is a detached fragmentary view showing the rear supporting-w11eels and a portion of the supporting-frame, with a fragment of the trenchthe forward traction-rollers.

ing-frame raised to an elevated position. Fig. 4 is a detail of a cover-closing roll supported in the trench-frame. Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of my improved machine. the right-hand portion of which is shown in section back of the first carrying-roll and the left-hand portion of which is shown in full lines from the front of the machine Figs. 6, 7, and 8 illustrate details of construction relating to the supporting means and driving mechanism therefor from and to Fig. J is a plan View of the under-framing of my improved machine. Figs. 10 and 11 are details relating to the means for steering and supporting the same. Fig. 12 is a detached vertical sectional view illustrating a portion of the driving mechanism for the rear trucks and means for raising the trench-frame. Fig. 13 is a detached detail view illustrating the drivinggearing for the front truck-frames more in detail. Fig. 14: is a detached sectional view taken on line 14 14 of Fig. 9 io'oking in the direction indicated by the arrow. Figs. 15 and 16 are details illustrating the construction of the trench-frame, the views being respectively a detached fragmentary view and v a section taken on line 16 of Fig. 2. Fig. 17

is a sec on on line .17, Fig. 2. Fig. 18 isa view showing at the left-hand side of said figure a partial rear elevation and at the right-hand side of said figure a partial sectional view "taken between the two carrying-wheels for the rear truck. Fig. 19 1s a detached fragnientary view illustrating the manner of d riving the apron or dumping-belt shown in Fig. 18. Fig. 20 is a detached detail view illustrating a clutch connected between the pinion shown in Fig. 19 and the shaft shown extending longitudinally of the apron of Fig.18, the object of the clutch being to prevent movement of the said apron excepting in one direction. Fig. 21 is a fragmentary vertical section taken through the supporting-frame of the superstructure, sl'lowing the location of the driving-engine, its crank-shaft, and themain driving shaft. which is geared therewith. Fig. 22 is a side elevational view of the parts shown in Fig. 21 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. fragmentary view illustrating the supporting .mcans for operating-levers hereinafter de- Fig. 23 is a detached nccting the friction-drive illustrated in Figs;

21 and 22 so as to permit the machine to be driven positively "from the crank-shaft of the engine at a greater speed than would be possible by said friction-drive, as is necessary in mdving the machine from point to point. Fig. 27 is a detail illustrating themannerof supporting the pin used for connecting the gears shown partially in Fig. 26. Fig. 28 illustrates thcpinsocket of the larger gear shown at the left of Fig. 26. Fig. 29 is adetached View illustrating the pump'driving mechanism and the reciprocatory rod which is connected with the frictiondrivehereinafterdescribed. elevational View of the bucket-trip-operating means. Fig. 31 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the details of construction thereof. Fig. 32 is a side clevational view of one of the buckets used with my improved machine. Fig. a front elevational view of the same. Fig. 34 is a section on line 34 of Fig. I Fig. Fig. 35 is a side elevational view looking in the opposite direction from that of Fig. 32. Fig. 36 is a bottom view of a bucket with one of its carrying-chains connected thereto. Fig. 37 is a fragmentary detail illustrating the bucket-hanger used for connecting therear end of the bucket with the carrying-chain. Fig. 38 is a detail view showing the shaft 80 and sprocket 46 used for actuating the conveyer mechanism hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 indicates generally an underframing upon which the superstructure 2 is mounted, within which superstructure is held the water-tanks for supplying the engine-boiler, the driving-engine, the upper end of the trenching mechanism, and many of the appurtenant connections cooperating therewith for the purpose of regulating the operation thereof.

Fig. 30 is a rear venient type, a valve 7,

- sprockets, sue upon The underframi'ng l is supported upon the [rear truck 3, which is a relstivelyfixed truck, and is pivotally supported upon the forward truck i, both of which are provided with tree tion-wheels, upon which the machine is carried, the forward truck being provided with steering mechanism, whereby it is caused to turn for the purpose of steering the apparatus in traveling from place to place.

indicstes the driving-engine, which is of the"lreciprocatory type and is supplied with stesi through steam-pipes 8 from a steamboilth", (not shown) which may be of any con- With a valve-rod operstihg the same, controiling the supply of steam to said engine and said vsive-rod 3 heing operated by the lever 9, which lever is shown. in 23. The engine is directly connected to the crenli-shsft 10, which shaft provided with the pinion 1L meshing with the 12, which gear is loosely supported upon the driving-shaft Upon the driving-shaft 13 is e friction-disk and actuated by the engine 5 is e reciprocatory rod 15, carrying upon its iotver end the friction-shoe to, hearing upon the outer peripherei face of the said dish 14, and s id brake-shoe is provided with inner grojocdng portion 16, adapted to ene inner peripheral face le -oi the said die 14:, Whichdisk is'orovided withsisterztiiyfienge, as host shown in 21 and 255, so that as the r 'ine caused to reciororeclprocatery movement is ir i to the irictioh drlringu'oe l5 and thence 1ntermittentiy through the shoes 3.6 end 6 to i-ei m I v i J 0 e. the dies 14%, tneiehy to drive the short 15 h s s the crsnh' she'ft procketwzheel 17, with procket-chain 18, d

10 is supported which the tending thence r J H ,v -v over tee isles sprocket fines noon the short 20, whee he p1 521 on shaft 2o isr er s r con eh i: the shsft i l e sprockets 22 3;, r r in driving the con- 255, which with said which con vcyer chains buckets 26 ere supported, said buckets over the drivingsprcchct 2s, thence down-- W'nrdiy eronnd the guidewolier 27, coinpsnion roller 28, and thence down the trench frame 29, his. which it is guided by the-in- Wardiy-projecting angle-irons 30, which. extend iongitudi'nsily of said trench-frame and serve guides to prevent excessive torsional movement of the said chains. An idier 31 is journeie 1 upon the shaft Within said trenching-r ems 9, the lower end thereof, about whien idier said chains puss. Said chains thence extend upwardly, as host shown in 2, sud over the idler 33 shown in that figure, from whence the chains extend again to the dzitingeeroeizet i The buckets used with my apparatus with the r r. an

L I, .2 3 v, ere with the Gun. -22 it is at;

which are supported in bearings 35, connectcd with the side walls 38 of the said buckets, said covers having cod castings 37 thereon, extending transversely thereof, which castsre provided with recesses or seats, whereby the spring-fingers 38 engage with said sestssnd iock the bottoms normeily in position to support eioad.

Supported in convenient position upon an upright 39 of the frame of the superstructure of my improved machine is a cylinder 40, having plunger therein, and connected with said plunger are chains-21, which connect with e pivoted level- Z1, terminating in the hook -12, the said hook lying normuliy in such position as to project into the piano occupied by the end costing 37 on thecovcr 3%, so thst when the buckets are moved the direction inst ceted by the arrow in Fig. 2 the hook will engage such end casting sod reason of such engagement cause the bottom to rotate upon its pivot i3, thereby ejecting any iced which may ice Within the bucket at that time and causing tnesaine todrop upon the spree or cerryinggheit 44, which cerryin,g*-heit may consist of snitshi'e conveyor, though, as

by means sprockehehsins 45, passing over "the sprocket 4:5, and suitebie idiers the opposite end and at proper portions for suitably seid conveyornci e. By reason of the freoncnt cos hook is liable distortion or ii machine. To 1;

oteiiy supported upon newer-eh i i-ejectin meet i9, oh. Wiiiell en res 1e I upon the shsii 4 Where-by upon rotation the pinion the nin uis ity of trenching-irsnie 2&3 with reietion ground rosy he carried Within the iimits of the said ment 4:9, seid segment preferably covered hymesns of the shield {Shown in Figs. 2 end 3.) Upon said shaft 51 is supported e hevei-gcer 53, in mesh with which e hevei-pinion upon it verticsi Upon the lower end of the shaft is zentaiiy-disposed hevei-g'esr 56, in mesh with which is a pinion 57 upon the longitndinsilyextended shaft 58.

The shz'ti't terminates in hand-wheel whereby throush said hand-wheel and the gears describes the shaft 51, carrying the pinion 50, may he rote "ed msnunliy, if desired, the purpose of raising end. lowering the mediate the ends of the shaft 58 a friction brake is provided adapted to regulate movement of said shaft 58 under the influence of the friction-disk and rollers 60 and 61, the said brakecomprisingoppositely-disposed hangers 62, (see Fig. 23,)which are pivotally supported upon the link 63 and are provided at or near their upper ends with the screw-threaded boxes 64:, with which engage the oppositely projecting screw-threaded sections 65. Keyed upon said scrcw-threzuled sections 65 is a lever (56, rigidly connected therewith.

As the screw threads are oppositely disposed, it will be obvious that upon movement of the lever 66 in either direction the shoes 67 will be projected away from or nearer to the friction-disk 68 upon said shaft 58, to which said disk is keyed. Therefore the friction of the roll 61 may be neutralized by the brake thus described, or if the brake is thrown off the said shaft may be driven either by the handwheel 59 or the friction-disk 61, as before described. lt is evident that the gearing thus described is so connected as to tend normally to project the lower end of the trenching-frame forwardly that is, in the line of workwhereby the friction means described serves the purpose of keeping the conveyer buckets properly supported in such position as to be most effective for the purpose of digging the trench.

Within the trench-frame is supported a roller 69, (shown insection in Fig. 4-,) said roller being supported between the angleirons 30 in such position as to impinge the advance end, as 37, of a bucket in the event that the bottom of said bucket is not firmly closed and locked in position. The chains ridingunder the angle-irons will draw said bottom into close contact with such roll 69, thereby closing the bottom and placing the bucket in position for operation.

At the upper side of the structure and supported upon the standards 70 is an approx matel y wedge-shaped bracket or extension 71,

the apex of which projects horizontally over the belt 44 and is in such position as to be adapted to impinge a bottom 3 1 if it should chance to fail to close before reaching said projection.

lt will be noted that the projection 71 is provided with an upper and a lower inclined face, and the object of these faces, with the acute angle formed thcrebetween, is. to pro- J vide positive means for closing the covers 3 regardless of their angularity with the line of travel thereof. If the doors are open to an appreciable degree, they will project below the apex of the bracket 71, striking the lower face thereof and causing said cover to rotate upon its axis as the bucket passes above the member 71, thereby causing a complete rotation of the bottom. lf, however, the bottom is nearly closed, it will be evident that the advance end-thereof will strike the upper face of the bracket 71 and riding thereupon will be closed by the upward inclination of said member 71 toward the supporting-post 7 0,

pass over the said bracket 71. Thus it will be evident that my trenching-machine is admirably adapted for digging trenches of uniform width, such as gas-pipe, water-main, or sewer trenches. It is arranged in such manner that with the same scoop-operating dea deep or shallow trench. Thus should the scoop-carrying frame occupy an approximately vertical position the depth of trench dug thereby will be determined by the length of the trench-frame; but when the angle of inclination of the trench-frame is varied to raise its lower end nearer the surface of the ground the depth of the trench will be proportionately less.

To provide against excessive draft upon the sprocket-chains 25, I prefer to provide the buckets with cutting-teeth so arranged that one bucket will cut from the side and a portion of the width thereof and the next sueceeding bucket will be cut from the opposite side of the trench and the intervening transverse portion thereof, whereby the strain upon the chains 25 is to a great extent neutralized, as each .bucket performs only the work necessary to excavate for a portion of the width of the trench. To provide a more se cure and lasting means for excavation, I prefer that the buckets 26 shall be supported upon the chains 25 by means of yokes 72,which yokes are pivotally connected to the chains 25 by means of pivots 73, projecting laterally from said yokes 7 2, the yokes being connected with and extending slightly beyond the forward ends of the buckets 26. Cutting-teeth 7 4 are connected with the yokes 7 2 by means of bolts or rivets 75, though preferably bolts are used, so that the said cutting-teeth may be removed,- if desired, as for sharpening or renewal. Pivotally supported within the yokes 7 2 are rollers 76, which rollers project laterally beyond the side walls 36 of said buckets, as shown in Figs. 33, 35, and 36. But one roller is at tached to each bucket, and each roller projects in an opposite direction, the rollers being upon the sides of the buckets opposite as the buckets are drawn to position for cutting the earth the rollers 7 6, bearing against the side walls of the trenching-frame, will.

vices the parts can be readily adjusted to dig I thus insuring a closing of the buckets as they that from which the teeth 7 4- project, so that in alright line, bu; are nocossmi y iosnt around alternate, nrmngenigsn'b of whom, a. uniform. width of trench.

is the chains 25 are nos always oxtoncisd ti is idiers and SUPIJOItiIJg YjOHEES, it necesssl than the and of the bucket opposite the journais 23 shgii be yieidingiy consented w'th the said chains, finding" 31mb purpose the hang ass 4"? provicie, said hangers losing piv 032,313? oonneci'rsci with the brackets 78 upon the rear end portion of she buckets 26 and.

boin connected, oy means of abs laterally psogwfng' pin'bies 79, with the saiphnins 25,

whereby more or iessfioxibiiity'is 'provicisci for? ine connection. of ms buckets.

wozzcsv'stsziand iiftsd above the grm vvei buckets 1s ciepositednpon said belts which, with the chains 25, com;

prise convo or conveyor is supported in position and sizssnt is iafieraiiy from su- FGZSSZ'L in! of the ins/shine, shown inifig. l 80, upon which no spzooks's is Med, extends siansvssssly the con- @f/GZfiPFOI! 8f. silo ouser and theses-f, hows in ig, 38, a bovoi-gosi 85 carr'sci on said snz fis.

' she 213 82 is s bevei-yinion 83;, which is held ugoon a shaft 8%, extending iongitndinsiiy of said apron 8i, is say ported in suits-bis thsrso ilpprosimoi-eiy the inns? and of the shzzi's 8% is a sprocket, 85, on which sons the chains 86, chain running; thence over she larger sprocket- 8? upon the said 23, whereby as shaft 23 rotates to hoist buckets 26 the bolt Wiii be, driven at the required spseci to quiokiy carry sws" material awn pod shes-Lennon from said. buckets.

As is maybe neossssry insoins instances 30 o v 1, I, 0 2 nos; ss-on sno means shouid be provided to proves-'5 a reverse movement of silo conveyor-bo s M, which would cause the earth thereupon to be again deposited in .tho e-Xcsvabion ni viv made. For ibis reason a clutch 88 is posed between the shaft 84 and $316 smocksi:

85, which olutch is shown in Fig. 20, snci comprises oppositely-disposed .mtehst-beesh 89, so arranged thatwhen the chain 86 is driven tiie proper direction to import forward movement-0f the conveyer said teeth will be in engagement, but when said chnin is oppositely driven the said tooth 89 Wiii". slip and permit the conveyor to remain sta-sionsrj tings preventing return of material dumpod thereupon. I

The rolieis 2T-s-nci'28 are supported in pivoted army 22"" and 28, which connected iogethe'i as shown in l i U by forn'nng a, guide for the meanness 81min in any position in whiclri't maybe placed, wniio t over spmcksts 92, mo

Upon ms shah 1 A, chains sass ovsxs supporting-Wheels, which traction type 'wi Mounted in shgftQS, on

,3 110, 111, and 1152,, which arconnectod with she spider freedom. of ping; botw in sin; over unovsn surfs I, :EZIIU to said yokes are connected brsckoss 121,

.whiie cross-bios 122 servo as suppoifis for she supporting-pistform 123, (shown 19,) inc said pasts being secured 121', as

shown, whereby she entire WELL; '01 me forward structure 1s carried upon Siliiij/GiZQS and br-mkets and thence to the trsntion, heels ho pizifozm 123 if: pwotza v support- 0*, i a h i plonus wit. 1

127 and 128 and thence around the wheel or drum 129 on the shaft with which is a pinion 130 in mesh with the gear 131.

On the shaft with gear 131 is said pinion 125, which is in mesh with the rack 1%, so that as the chains 126 are nuui'i mlated the forward truck may be moved to the right or left through the instrumentality of said connected gearing.

When it is desired to'move the machine from place to place, a pin 133 is used to con nect the disk 14: with the large gear 12, shown in Fig. 26, whereupon power from the crank-shaft 10 will be communicated to the shaft 13 through the pinion 11 on said crankshaft. It will be understood that the gear 12 is normally freely rotatable on the shaft 13 and the flanged disk l is keyed thereupon, shown in the broken view, Fig. 25, whereupon power from said shaft will be communicated to the traction-wheels through the hereinbefore-described connections, in which case the proper lever will be thrown, and through well-umlerstood and common mechanism the bucket-operating mechanism will be cut out so as to remain inactive, the trenchframe in the meantime having been elevated from the ground.

The clutch 13% on shaft 13 is provided to throw out of connection the sprocket 90, (shown at the left-hand side of Fig. 521,) whereby, if desired, differential movement may be imparted to the rightand left traction-wheels, and either may be driven without driving the others, the lever 135 being provided to regulate the action of said clutch.

It will be noted that the friction-roller 61 is held in the yoke 136, (scel ig. 141,) and said yoke is controlled by the lever 137 (shown in Fig. 23) through suitable connecting-rods 138 and 13!), whereby the friction-roller (31 may be caused to bear upon its d riving-disk or released therefrom, as may be desired.

\Vhile l have shown in the accoi'npanying drawings the preferred form of my invention, it will be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise form shown, for many of the details may be changed in form or position without affecting the operativeness or utility of my invention, and 1 therefore. reserve the right to make all such modifications as are included within the scope of the follow ingclaimsor of mechanical equivalents to the structures set forth.

Having described my invention, what I. claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. in a trenching-machine, liucket-carrying chains, shafts connecting said chains, buckets on said shafts,'and means on said buckets adapted to move them longitudinally of said shafts. 4

2. in atremzhing-machine, bucket-caFrying chains, buckets thereon, shafts connecting nected therewith, a carrying-chain with which said yoke is connected, and cutting-teeth on said yoke In a trenching-machine, a bucket comprising a receptacle, a hinged closure there for, a spring-catch cooperating with said closure, a'supporting-yoke approximately surrounding the forward end of said bucket, cuttingteeth on said yoke, and means for supporting the opposite end portions of said bucket.

6. In a trenching-machine, a bucket, a supporting-yoke at the forward end thereof, cutting-teeth connected with said yoke, and a laterally-projecting guide-roller projecting from one side of said yoke.

v7. In a trenching-machine, a bucket, asupportingyoke near one end thereof, cuttingteeth connected with said yoke, a shaft journaled in the yoke, and a guideroller projecting laterally beyond the bucket at one side whereby the said bucket is shifted laterally.

8. In a trenching-mach-ino, a bucket open at one side, a yoke near the open side serving as a support for said bucket, removable cutting-teeth connected with said yoke, a lateralLv-projecting guide-roll approximately on the opposite side of the bucket from some of said teeth, and a supporting-shaft on which said yoke is journaled.

2). in a trenchinganachine, a bucket open at its advance end, cutting means thereat, a simporting-yoke surrounding the cutting portion of said bucket, and a transversely-extendin shaft on which said yoke is journaled.

' 14). In a trenchingmachine, a carryingchain, a bucket, a yoke connecting said bucket with said chain, cutting-teeth on said yoke, and a hanger pivotally connecting said chain with the opposite end portion of said bucket. 11. In a trenching-machine, a carryingchain, a bucket, a yoke projecting forwardly of said bucket and laterally thereof to one side, cutting-teeth connected with the transverse arm. and with one vertical arm of said yoke, and a guide-roller projecting laterally beyond the opposite vertical arm ofsaid yoke.

12. In a trenching-machine, a carrying chain, buckets thereon, pivoted bottoms in said buckets, a tronchingframe, actuating means and guide-rollers on which said chains are carried, means for opening said bucke s, and an a iiproximately wedge-shaped stop adapted to close said buckets.

13. in a trenching machine, trenchingbuckets with centrally-pivoted bottoms, carrying means therefor, means for opening said buckets, and means for closing said buckets regardless of the degree of opening.

it. In a trenehing machine, a supportingframe, a movable carrying-chain, buckets thereon, supporting-yokes on said buckets and journals in said yokes hung in said chains, in combination with pivoted bottoms connected with said buckets, and an approximately wedge-shaped stop on said frame, the said stop serving to swing said bottoms in either direction to close the same in passin 15. In a trenching-machine, a supportingframe, a r'novable carrying-chain, buckets thereon, pivoted bottoms for said buckets adapted to swing to an approximately vertical position, and a rigid approximately wedgeshaped stop in the line of travel of said bottoms when open.

16. in a trenching machine, trenchingbuckets, pivoted hangers therefor, knives on said hangers below said buckets, pivoted bottoms in said buckets, a pivoted trip in the path of said bottoms, a spring-actuated plunger connected with said trip, and a cushion for said plunger.

lT. In a trenching-machine, means for tripping bucket-sections comprising a pivoted trip, a reciprocatory plunger connected therewith, a spring for actuating said plunger, and a cushion cooperating therewith.

in. in a trenching-machine, a bucket-trip comprising a pivot: lly-sumuorted lever, a cylind 3!, a reciprocatory piston therein, a piston-rod. and means for connecting said pistonrod and said lever.

19. in a trenching machine, a bucket-trip comprising a hooked lever, a fixed pivot therefor, a fluid-cylinder, a piston reciprocatory therein, a piston-rod, a spring bearing against said piston, a rockable member connected with said rod, and com'iecting means between said rockablev element and said lever.

2 In a trenchlug-machine, a bucket-trip comprising a fluidcvlinder, a reciprocatory piston therein, a piston-rod, a spring on said piston-r0d bearing against said piston, a rockable n'iembcr connected with said rod, a lever having an engaging hook at one end, a pivot therefor, extensions on said lever at substantially opposite sides of its pivot, and means connected with said extensions and said first i l l comprising a removable hook, a pivotall -sup ported lever carrying lhe same, and a reciprocatory plunger connected with said lever.

' 23. In a trenching-machine, a bucket-trip comprisinga removablehook, a pivotally-supported lever carrying the same, a reciprocatory plunger connected with said lever, and cushioning means for said plunger.

24. In a trenching-machine, a bucket-trip comprising a removable book, a lever with which said hook is rigidly connected, a pivot for said lever, a projection on the lever at approximately opposite sides of said lover, a tluid-cylinder,a plunger therein, a spring hearing on said plunger, a rockable member on the outer end of said plunger, and a plurality of connecting means therefrom to the said levcr projections. I

25. In a trenchingmachine, a positive bucket-driving means, and a friction driving means for simultaneously propelling the machine forward.

26. In a trenching machine, a positive bucket-driving means, and a reciprocatory friction driving means for changing the position of the machine while the buckets are in operation.

2.7. in a trenching-machine, a trench-frame, buckets guided therein, means for driving said buckets, and friction-driven means for varying the angle of said trench-frame.

28. in trenching-machine, a chaiwandbucket conveyor in positive connection therewith, a-pivotally-supported trench-frame including substantially parallel side sheets, angle-irons projecting inwardly of said side sheets to guide said chains.

2.9. In atrenching machine, a plurality of conveyor-chains, buckets thereon, a driving shaft with sprockets thereon engaging said chains, a laterally-projecting conveyor, a conveyor-platform, atransversc shaft at theouter end thereof, a sprocket on said shaft engaging said conveyer, a bevel-gear on said shaft extending longitudinally of said conveyor, a sprocket on the inner end of said shaft, achain passing over said sprocket, and a larger sprocket on said Iirst-mentioneddriving-shaft.

30. in a trenching-machine, a driving-engine, a driven shaft, a friction member thereon, a reciprocatory shoe cooperating therewith, a loose gear on said driven shaft adapted to be locked to said friction member, a pinion in mesh with said gear, the piuionbeing positively driven by the engine, and connections from said shaft to traction-wheels adapted to propel said machine over the ground at varying speeds.

ln witness whereof l have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

LOUES aasicmt nary.-

Witnesses:

Fannnaioit ll. (ilBBS, J. A. Mamou. 

